2013 Official Returning Players Thread

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Seems as if there should be a thread for this, if only because it always makes for an interesting storyline when a player returns to face his former team for the first time since leaving, and this week there have been a few highlights in this arena. I'm going to work back a bit from recent memory, and whenever one of these matchups happens during the rest of the season, feel free to come post about it here. Here we go:

Melky Cabrera, V. SF 5/14-15

This one received some media attention, as Cabrera received his 2012 World Series from the Giants before the game. The controversy over this is well-documented, but regardless of how you feel about his PED suspension, his owners were thrilled to see him break out of a season long slump with a 4-5, 2 R/2 RBI effort. His average went from .261 to .278, and the next day he went 1-3 w/2R, 2B. Signs of life?

Although he's already made Kevin Towers and the Dbacks look foolish for trading him away in the offseason, he wasted no time reminding fans just what they missed out on, going 4-5 in his first game at Chase Field in opposing colors with a 2R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR. The Dbacks were much more cautious with him in the last two games, walking him 4 times. 3 game total: 5-10, 3R, HR, 2RBI, 4 BB.

Hamilton has been a ghost all year, and the boos he heard from fans in Texas during the first week have to be echoing in his head still. He went 0-for the first 2 games before salvaging a 3-5, 1 R game in the finale, and went 4-4 in the series opener in Arlington. Thus far he's 9-25 (.360) with 4 runs and no RBI.

Kyle Lohse-v. STL 5/3 (L 1-6); @ STL 4/12 (L 0-2)

He's been owned by his former team this year. 0-2 over 12 innings with a 4.50 ERA and only 5ks.

Struggling mightily with an 0-5 record and 6.39 ERA over 7 starts since signing a 4 year, $52 million offseason deal with Chicago, Jackson went 5 1/3 for his first Cubs win against his former team. Fun Edwin Jackson fact: born in Neu-Ulm, West Germany.

Scott Feldman, Cubs-V. Tex 5/06, W 9-2

Another of the Cubs offseason acquisition turned in a win against his old mates, as Feldman was dominant over 7 IP with only 2 H/1 BB allowed. He evened his record at 3-3 on the year and lowered his ERA to 3.3 in the process.

James Shields, Rays-V. Rays 4/30, W 8-2

Shields turned in an ace effort facing his former team for the first time, allowing 2 ER to go with 7 ks over 7 IP, evening his record at 2-2 and bringing his ERA to a crisp 3.00 on the year. What will he do when he faces the Rays at the Trop this year?

Upcoming/Eagerly Anticipating Returns

Heath Bell, ARZ-@ MIA 5/17-19

Expect a nasty reception when Bell coes out of the pen against the Marlins. Cuz, you know, they're jealous he was able to escape the baseball purgatory that is Jeffrey Loria's fiefdom.

Shin-Shoo Choo v. CLE

Vernon Wells v. NYY

Torii Hunter V. LAA

Another others?

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It was certainly strange seeing Youk take the field in pinstripes against the Sawks on Opening Day, but that's the reality of baseball. Youk went 4-12 with 2 2B, 2 R & 4 K during the series. Meanwhile, Youkilis has missed 24 of the past 25 games.

A.J. Pierzynski-V. CHW 5/1-5/2

A.J. was drilled by an Addison Reed fastball in his PH appearance in the 9th inning of a 5-2 White Sox win. No love lost here. AJ went 0-4 in the finale.